WHEN best-selling author David Nicholls looked out on the crowd packed into Carlisle’s Old Fire Station on Tuesday night he was probably not expecting to be heckled - and certainly not by a mobile phone.

The author of the book, turned screenplay, film and Netflix series 'One Day', was in Carlisle to speak to over 200 fans about his new book, You Are Here, which tells a love story which develops on the Coast-to-Coast as the characters make their way through the Lakes and towards the North Sea.

During the discussion, Nicholls spoke about a scene in a hotel, prompting the unmistakable voice of the Siri voice assistant to butt in and say ‘I can help you search for a hotel’.

Somewhat taken aback, the author quipped: “I never expected to be heckled by Siri."

You Are Here, which was released this year, is a celebration of walking by Nicholls, who admitted that he didn’t think Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route was the best long distance walk. He said: “I chose the Coast to Coast because it’s symbolic, going from the Irish to the North Sea. There is a mythology around it with traditions like taking a pebble from St Bees and dropping it at Robin Hood’s Bay.

“I did wonder if more people might be trying the route because of this book, but part of me wants to say there are much nicer walks,” he said.

During the visit, Nicholls lent his support to those in Cumbria who are preparing to do a virtual version of the route to raise money for Cumbria Community Foundation in its 25th year.

He met Natalie Rutherford from the Foundation who is doing the challenge and told her: “Good luck to everyone who is taking part in the virtual coast to coast for such a good cause. You won’t have to worry about the weather, but it might inspire you to try the route for real.”

David also recalled that he had his ‘worst day’s walking ever’ in the Lakes as he walked from Ennerdale to Honister Pass. He said: “I was soaked to the skin within minutes. It really was awful and when I got to the hotel at Rosthwaite I threw my clothes down in a fury at the rain and wind, but I do get to use that experience and write about it.”

Answering questions from BBC Cumbria’s Helen Millican and the audience, Nicholls gave a fascinating insight into his writing habits.

His days consists of a typical 9-5 in an office away from home, doing editing and admin in the afternoon. He’ll build up scenes and dialogues until he has a ‘big bag of stuff’ then write a synopsis for each chapter and finish about five drafts before nearing completion of his novel.

That explains why it will be another four or five years before we see another Nicholls novel. “It might be about family relationships, but at the moment I have nothing,” he said.